Sporting News recruiting writer Brian McLaughlin continues his position-by-position look at some of the top players in the country. Today, a look at defensive tackles.

Kenny Bigelow

Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, Md.)

6-4/280

Bigelow says: “I think that coaches like my physicality and my quickness off the ball. They like my athleticism and how I can change direction. I think me going out against some of the best and beating them has gotten me a lot of my offers.”

His take on schools: Bigelow, who could also play defensive end, has been committed to USC for a while now. “The tiebreaker for me was Coach O (Ed Orgeron). He reminds me a lot of my defensive line-head coach, who is like my dad. They have a lot of the same qualities. I think I will go in and start, having an amazing three-and-out career.”

Caleb Brantley

Crescent City (Fla.)

6-3/310

Brantley says: “College coaches say they love how flexible I am and how agile and fast I am.”

His take on schools: Brantley is currently a soft commitment to Florida. “I just want to say that I’m committed but I’m still looking around.”

Jay Ellison

Harris County (Hamilton, Ga.)

6-2/285

Ellison says: “Coaches like my motor and how I play in the opponents’ backfield.”

His take on schools: Auburn, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Tennessee have all offered scholarships to Ellison. “I’m wide open as of now.”

MORE POSITION ANALYSES

Maurice Hurst

Hurst says: “Colleges normally tell me I play low and fast and get off the play and get off of the block well. My strengths would probably be my get-off and also my speed on third-and-long.”

His take on schools: “It is wide open, but Ohio State, Michigan and Boston College definitely stand out for me.”

DeAndre Johnson

Northgate (Newnan, Ga.)

6-3/310

Johnson says: “Coaches say they like my foot movement and quickness. They also like how I could clog up the middle for them.”

His take on schools: Johnson committed to Georgia early on. “I think the best thing for me (at Georgia) is the atmosphere or the coaching staff. Just knowing I’ll have a great chance of making it to the NFL is great too, like the rest of the players they coached in the past.”

Billy Price

Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)

6-4/300

Price says: “When colleges evaluate me, the first thing they notice is my nonstop motor and relentless effort. The strength of my game would be my initial explosion off the ball and using my hands to control the offensive linemen.”

His take on schools: “I committed to Ohio State on Feb. 13 and I can’t wait to start playing for the scarlet and gray.”

A’Shawn Robinson

Arlington Heights (Fort Worth, Texas)

6-4/305

Robinson says: “They (coaches) like me because of the way I play and work on the field and because the work I’m doing in the classroom is showing how hard I work off the field and on the field.”

His take on schools: Robinson has been committed to Texas since earlier this year.

Eddie Vanderdoes

Placer (Auburn, Calif.)

6-4/285

Vanderdoes says: “Coaches like how hard I play, my strength, speed and how good my technique already is at the high school level. Really, I have just been a fortunate person to get the attention I’m getting and I’m grateful for it.”

His take on schools: “The schools that are chasing me the hardest are Cal, Oregon State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, Washington and now, Purdue. Right now I’m wide open for anything. I have no plans on committing anytime soon. If I had to pick a top five this early it would be Cal, Oregon, USC, Oregon State and Texas A&M or UCLA, in no order.”